This particular ideological premise grew stronger and stronger over the 20th Century, as America solidified itself as an economic powerhouse, a beacon of industrialization, and a military dynamo. In the 1980s, after the rebirth of American conservativism and individualism, these refrains grew louder and louder. America was a country, we all wanted and want to believe, where anyone could pull themselves up by their bootstraps, if they just tried hard enough, and if they were responsible and made good decisions.

Unfortunately, this overzealousness about the power of the individual has created some rather devastating psychological and physical consequences for our nation. When people need help, they are often told not to seek it, but instead to grit up, bear their problem, and find their own way through. If a person is going through depression, or is suicidal, they often do not seek medical help, because doing so has a certain stigma on it. Going to see a psychologist implies that one is not in control of themselves, and therefore, not trying hard enough to live up to this American ideal of reliance on self.

We see the manifestations of this overemphasis on the power of the individual in our policymaking as well. Take universal health care, or universal insurance. How many times have we heard the refrain: "If someone really wants health insurance, they'll find a way to get it." Or with alcoholics: "If they really want to quit, they can will themselves through it." Homeless? You obviously haven't tried hard enough to find a place to live. Are you divorced? You obviously didn't try hard enough to save your marriage.

So goes the logic of those in our country who are obsessed with feeling 'in control' of their everyday surroundings. And in the end, that's the overall problem. As a nation who has persevered and brought ourselves through so much by constantly attacking problems and building our standing up, we hate the idea that we might not be in control of everything that we face. We don't like to think that there are problems we have that we cannot solve. And the longer we have this fear of being controlled by external circumstances, the longer that we do a disservice to our fellow Americans who really do need help. There really are people who can't do it on their own, regardless of whatever government program they may or may not qualify for. Sometimes, people really do need assistance. Welfare shouldn't have the stigma that it does. People should be able to see a therapist without fearing that those around them will shun them and think poorly of them.

We are gearing up for a major debate on health care reform this week. Despite of whether or not Obama's plan is or is not what we on this site may want it to be, or whether or not some Americans think a public plan is a good idea or not, one thing is certain: we must change our mindset about seeking help as a nation, one person at a time. Otherwise, we will find ourselves in a precarious situation where there really are two Americas, as John Edwards has routinely spoken about. Not just one in poverty, and one ignorant of it, but one America who is reaching, crying out for help, and another America who is too scared to  not be the unconditionally independent brute to help.